Michael offley



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MICHAEL OFFLEY, OF BALIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGXOR TO HIMSELF ANI) WM. COLTON, OF SAME PLACE.

SELF-LOCKING DEVICE FOR OMNIBUS-REGISTERS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 29,549, dated August 7, 1860.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MICHAEL OFFLEY, of the city of Baltimore, .in the State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Tmprovement in Gmnibus- Registers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which make part of this specification, and in which- Figure l represents a view in elevation of an omnibus register embracing my improvement, as seen from the front. Fig. 2 represents a similar view of the same, as seen from one side thereof, with the parts in the same relative position as in Fig. l, and Fig. 3 represents a diagram of the face-plate showing the relative position of the indexingers at different times.

Omnibus-registers may be mainly divided into two classes. The first class consists of those machines in which the registering mechanism is actuated by pulling upon acord or lever, which is done sometimes by the driver of the vehicle, or by the person who collect-s the fare, and sometimes by the passengers. The second class comprises those machines in which the registering mechanism is actuated by the weight of the passenger as he steps into or out of the omnibus. This latter class I deem preferable, for in the former the registering is dependent upon the action of the driver, conductor, or passenger, and there can be no check against their carelessness or dishonesty, while in the latter the movementy is automatic, and, consequently, must take place whenever the weight of a passenger is thrown upon the moving mechanism, and can by no possibility register less than the actual number of passengers carried.

The nature of my invention is such that it can readily be adapted to either of the abovenamed classes of registers, although T prefer the latter for the reason above stated, and my improvement consists in the use of an independent. index (in addition to those usually employed) rotating upon a shaft provided with an arm operated by a pin on one of the main wheels of the register, and prevented from turning in but one direction, by which arrangement is caused to remain stationary during an entire revolution of the main wheel, and is then moved forward into a certain position where it remains fixed, and from whence it cannot be moved either backward or forward except by some one having access to the interior of the case inclosing the mechanism of the register, thus affording a valuable safeguard against fraud or carelessness on the part of the driver, conductor or collector.

Tn the accompanying drawings a registering apparatus embracing my improvement is represented as applied to a city railroad car. The mechanism is to be inclosed in a case (A) securely locked. The mechanism resembles that of ordinary clock-work and is contained between two plates B, C) securely held together and kept a suitable distance apart by pillars These plates also form bearings for the shafts which carry the pinions of the r-egister. The car is provided with a yielding step or platform (E) upon which each passenger steps as he enters the car. This step rests upon a lever (F) one end of which is pivoted to the car while the other is attached to a connectingrod or chain (G) which operates the lever that actuates the registering mechanism. A spring (f) under the step-lever (E) prevents it from yielding too far when the weight is thrown upon it, and throws it up again as soon as the passenger steps olf the plat-form.

The pawl-lever (H) to which the connecting-rod (G) is attached is pivoted at its inner end to a bracket or arm (I) secured upon, and projecting from the backplate (C), and provided with suitable stops to limit the range of motion of the lever. A spiral spring may be employed to elevate the lever after each depression; or, it may be done by means of a spring (/t) underneath the lever. Near the middle of the lever a pawl (if) is pivoted. This pawl takes into the teeth of a ratchet-wheel (J) turning upon a shaft the pawl being held up to said teeth by means of a spring (71) upon the lever H. There is also a spring and pawl (j) attached to the back plate (C) to prevent the ratchet-wheel (J) from turning the wrong way when the lever H, is rising.

The shaft j, extends through the dial or face-plate and carries an index or pointer (y) upon its outer end. This shaft also carries a spur-pinion which gears into an intermediate spur-wheel (L) turning upon a shaft (Z) which carries a pinion (Z) gearing into a spur wheel (M). This spur-wheel turns on a shaft which exj continues the pin on the wheel M,

tends throughl the dial-plate and carries an index A small ratchet-pinion (N) is secured upon a shaft which, likewise, projects through the dial-plate, and carries` upon its end an index (N). This ratchet-pinion is also prevented from turning backward by means of a pawl (a2) held in place by a spring. A short arm or projection (n3) is secured upon the face of the ratchet-wheel (N) and projects beyond its periphery in the same vertical plane. A pin (m) which projects from the face of the wheel M, near its periphery strikes against this arm (n3) when the parts are in their proper relative position, and carries it forward a certain distance, it then slips past the arm and the ratchet-wheel remains stationary.

The operation of the machine is as follows: Suppose the parts to occupy the position shown in Figs. l, and 2, of the drawing, and that the fare for each passenger is five cents. Now, as a passenger steps upon the platform to enter the car, it sinks under his weight bearing down the step-lever (F) which, through the connecting-rod (G) draws down the lever H, and pawl (7a2). This causes the ratchet-wheel J, to revolve the length of one tooth and the index J to point to half the distance between the point-s marked 100, and 5, in the drawings. As soon as the step is relieved of the weight of the passenger the parts are thrown up to their former positions by their respective springs; but the pawl y, prevents any backward movement of the ratchet-wheel J. )Vhen the next passenger enters or some former one leaves the car the same operation is repeated and the index J marks the point 5. Thus it will be seen that two movements of the mechanism are necessary to register one fare, and that the registry is not completed until the passenger has left the car. This process is repeated until twenty fares are registered, when the index J will register 100, on the dial 7c. The train of gearing is so proportioned that vfor every revolution of the index J the index M, will register one point (or one dollar) upon the dial is. When twenty three dollars have been registered the pointers will occupy the position shown by the red lines in Fig. 3.

As the movement L strikes the arm on the small ratchetpinion (N) and rotates it until its index (N) marks the point 25, within the circle as shown in black lines in Fig. 3.` As the pin (m) continues its motion it slips past the end of the arm (n3) and the ratchetpinion (N) being held fast by the pawl (a2) the index N, remains at the point 25 no matter how often the register may be operated after the pin m, has once passed the arm (n3). It will readily be perceived that this means of disconnecting the index after registering the required number of fares affords a great safeguard against fraud or carelessness on the part of the driver or conductor. The register is to be set every morningvby the starter who alone has access to it. The pawl n2, is provided with a handle to assist this adjustment.

I have described my improvement as applied to a city railroad car, but it is obviously equally appiicable to any place where persons have to pass through a narrow space or doorway, as, for instance, in an omnibus, ferry-boat, bridge, or exhibition-room. It is also obvious that my improvement can be applied to use at any rate of fare, and the changes required to adapt the register to such fare are so obvious t0 any skilful mechanic as to require no detailed description in this place. lt is likewise manifest that the capability of my improvement is not limited to amounts of aggregate fare.

l am aware that operating clock-work to register passenger-fares either by the weight of the passengers themselves, or by pulling a cord or lever is not new; and therefore do not claim broadly any such device, but

Having thus fully described the construction and operation of my improved omnibus register, what I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of the pin m', with the arm n3, when arranged for joint operation, substantially as herein described for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

MICHAEL OFF LEY.

)Vitnessesr THos. lV. GRIFFIN, SAML. N. HALFPENNY. 

